Sinclair the hot tip to replace Tippett for Swans

CALLUM Sinclair looks to have won the battle with draftee Darcy Cameron for the back-up ruck spot in Sydney's crunch game against Collingwood at the SCG on Friday night.

Sinclair played 16 games last year after being traded from West Coast for Lewis Jetta. He suffered a knee injury in round 18 and couldn't force his way back into the Sydney line-up because of Sam Naismith's rapid development.

He gets his chance after Kurt Tippett hurt his ankle injury last Friday night's loss to the Western Bulldogs.

Cameron had an outstanding pre-season playing in all three of the Swans' JLT series matches and impressed with his marking and scoring ability.

Had he been included he would have become Sydney's fourth debutant this year and the club's 12th since the start of last season.

The match against the Magpies will be Lance Franklin's 250th but he expects the milestone to be just another step along the way to 300 and beyond.

"That's the goal," Franklin said.

"If the body holds up, which is has so far, it's probably only two seasons away for me and I've got a couple more after that."

The 30-year-old is in scintillating touch after taking 11 marks and booting four goals in last week's loss to the Western Bulldogs and slotting four in the opening-round defeat to Port Adelaide.

Sydney Swans AFL player Lance Franklin takes part in a training session.PAUL MILLER

Buddy still has another five years on his nine-year $10 million deal and has already set his sights on joining the 300 club.

Franklin's style of play where he regularly moves up the ground and through the midfield could also add to his longevity, but any questions of where he plays are up to the coach.

"That's a question for John Longmire," Franklin said.

"If my body stays okay, I think I'll probably keep playing the same."

Franklin could be in for a double and possibly a triple celebration against the Magpies.

He needs just five more goals to become the 12th player to reach the 800 mark and six to go past Richmond spearhead Matthew Richardson, who was the last player to go achieve it in 2009.

Former Footscray and Fitzroy champ Bernie Quinlan is the next in his sights on 817, which would move him into the top 10 all time.

The Giants, meanwhile, are set to welcome back key forward Jonathon Patton for Saturday's match against North Melbourne in Hobart. Patton was a late withdrawal from the team which belted Gold Coast by 102 points with a hip injury.